Broadview Park and letter to County Commission

I am writing to you in reference to the “Sex Offender issue” in Broadview Park. I realize that many, in the commissioner’s office are attempting to tackle this problem and you need to know how the taxpaying citizens of Broward feel about this issue.

Let me begin by telling you, I have been the largest proponent of “residency restrictions” for over twenty years. My neighborhood knows what it is like to be labeled a “sex offender dumping ground”. It has taken thousands of hours and many trips before the town council to diminish the numbers of sex offenders in my zip code. It took courage, fortitude and a will by the Town of Davie and its citizens to shed the horrendous reputation that was heaped on us, for no other reason than our city was affordable and centrally located.
My zip code, just one of many that makes up the cities boundaries, started with 68 offenders in a three mile radius which is unacceptable. It didn’t help that the department of corrections were literally “steering” these offenders into my neighborhood in conjunction with “lack of enforcement” by the “powers that be”. These two elements alone were so detrimental to the city we had to take drastic actions to decrease the ever-growing numbers of offenders.
I have to stress to you as “elected city Commissioners”, it is NOT your duty to re-invent the wheel when it comes to the trials and tribulations of sex offender issues.
What “must not” be forgotten is your “obligation” and oath, to make each city in your districts as safe and successful as possible to encourage a strong and healthy County as a whole. This cannot be attained if you throw even one city to the wolves in your quest to be politically correct. Or, bow to the pressures and tired arguments of “offender sympathizers”. Who will seek to cluster themselves in one area at the expense of homeowners and families, who themselves, at this junction are only trying to keep their property values, their police resources” and their ability to draw new residents with a “Family friendly” reputation in for a growing and stable tax base.

It has been brought to my attention that the annexation of Broadview Park into Davie is a very real possibility and only the details of infrastructure issues, remain on the table. If indeed this annexation takes place, and Davie inherits 118 and “growing” convicted sex offenders, you can bank on the citizens of Davie knowing where to bombard and protest this slap in the face.
Davie enacted ordinances concerning sex offenders that must be enforced by the “County Commission” for Broadview Park, if annexation is even in the “wind”. If annexation is not a consideration, you still don’t have any choice but to seek to protect the citizens of Broadview Park and their community.

I will close by saying; I and my neighbors have not spent the last twenty years jumping thru hoops to clean up our community, so County Government can flush those efforts in one fell swoop in favor of “convicted sex offenders”. Commissioner Wexler’s feeble attempt at “Loitering Laws” are ridiculous and condescending to the very people who she claims to represent. I stress again, your responsibilities are to ensure a healthy and stable growth for all of Broward, not just the ones you pick and choose.

Toughest city in the US

Davie Florida recently enacted the "landlord violation act" which simply states, landlords renting or housing convicted sex offenders with crimes against minors and who are inside the 2500ft buffer zones can be fined and or jailed.

In as harsh as this might be, one has to understand that Davie, Florida is an education mecca and has many many affordable rentals. Property Owners or Managers go on the "warm body theory" they dont live there, so its no skin off their backs to rent to anyone who's deposit checks cash. The city finally had enough when Probation officers were going out of their way to "steer offenders into the city because it was affordable and centrally located.

How the DOC can stand with one hand out asking for more money and then degrade my childrens well being with the other hand, still blows my mind.

Davie, Florida has the toughest residency restrictions to date: This is a good thing. The Town decided and had the fortitude to put their foot down and say "we are not going to be a dumping ground for bad guys anymore".

First off people really need to understand the your sex offender registry is not and I repeat NOT the Holy Grail of all things EVIL. But in the same breath, I can not impart on you strongly enough that most people have no idea what truly dangerous persons are in their neighborhoods. Many who would make your hair stand up have no sexual offenses listed in their criminal history. More on those later. If you want to educate your self on the various criminal charges, its not hard to do. The registry will usually list the crime and provide a link to its definition. If not, copy, paste and add the state you are in and google it. State statutes will usually be on the first page. I highly recommend the public get familiar with them. It is also unlikely that your sex offender website will include the entire criminal history of any given offender. What may be an offense you dont consider violent must be taken in context with previous history. But also, a sexual battery charge may not include the fact the guy broke into someones house and raped and beat the 15 year old babysitter, while the babies slept in the next room. Now I dont know about you, but thats a horrible visualization.

sex offenders in violation

There has been much press on the trials and tribulations of sex offenders and their issues on residency restrictions. I have found most people are under the impression ALL sex offenders have these restrictions. That is not true. They can vary by state and even localities. It is up to you to determine what those restrictions are and exactly what offenders are under those umbrella of restrictions. In most cases an offender has had to have committed the offense within certain dates and of a narrow range of felony charges. So just know that all sex offenders do not have restrictions of living near schools, playgrounds, parks and areas of where children congregate.

system breakdowns

I have dedicated the last twenty years to educating myself on the issues of the public, the judicial system and law enforcement in relation to convicted sex offenders. It is far more complicated than most people think. In fact the general public overall think that the systems that have been financed with their hard earned dollars for their protection are in force and working. I am here to tell you they are not. In fact, the more I learn, the more disappointed and disgusted I get.